A Magical Bowl: Quality over Everything?

Before you is a bowl that was made around 1770 to 1800 in Jingdezhen, but currently on display in the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul. In the middle of the bowl is a square inscribed with Arabic numbers. The rest of the bowl is decorated with black Arabic inscriptions. Made by Chinese potters, but adorned with Arabic calligraphy. This story will take a closer look at the way the quality of this calligraphy is of importance to these kinds of wares.